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Academic Appeals and
Academic Misconduct Appeals Procedures

Applications for a formal academic appeal are available in the Office of the Registrar. In order to ensure an appeal process that is fair and timely to all parties involved, the following procedure is in place for academic appeals.

  • If a student wishes to file a formal concern regarding classroom procedure, the process starts with step 1a.

  • Should an instructor find a student subject to academic misconduct as defined in the University catalog, the process starts with step 1b.

  • If a student wishes to raise grounds for challenging a specific academic policy of the University, not the resolution of an academic matter with an instructor, the appeals process begins with step 7 below.

Upon receipt of a formal written appeal in the Office of the Registrar, the procedure below will be followed.

1a. The student should schedule a conference (held in-person or remotely via email, phone, or video conference) with the instructor within 14 calendar days of receipt of final grade notification. The instructor may resolve the problem at that point. (Skip to step 2.)

1b. If there are reasons for an instructor to believe that a student has engaged in academic misconduct, the instructor shall notify the student of the charges. The student should contact the instructor within 14 calendar days after receipt of notification to arrange a conference (held in-person or remotely via email, phone, or video conference) with the instructor.

2. If the instructor is unavailable, the student shall notify the dean of the appropriate college in writing within seven additional calendar days that he or she is seeking a conference with the instructor. The conference shall be held at the earliest possible convenience of the instructor and the student.

3. If the matter is not resolved to the satisfaction of the student, he or she may submit a written appeal to the dean of the appropriate college within seven calendar days of the conference.

4. The dean of the appropriate college shall schedule a conference (held in-person or remotely via email, phone, or video conference) with the student and/or other involved persons within seven calendar days of receiving the appeal from the student.

5. The dean shall notify all parties in writing of his or her decision within seven calendar days after the conference and provide contact information and procedures for further appeal.

6. If the student believes the decision of the dean is unwarranted, he or she may appeal to the appropriate graduate or undergraduate Academic Appeals Committee in writing within seven calendar days after receipt of the decision of the dean.

7. The Academic Appeals Committee shall establish a regular monthly meeting date for the purpose of hearing appeals. The date shall be published online at https://www.dbu.edu/schedule/ under "General Information." The deadline for filing an appeal shall be one week prior to a meeting. Appeals filed after the deadline will be heard at the next meeting of the committee. All parties involved shall be notified of the meeting date at which the appeal will be heard and given the opportunity to be present.

Note: Only the student who is filing the appeal may attend the scheduled Academic Appeals Committee meeting.

8. The Academic Appeals Committee shall notify all parties in writing of its decision within seven calendar days.

9. If a student believes the decision of the Academic Appeals Committee is unwarranted, he/she may appeal to the Provost within seven calendar days after receipt of the decision of the Academic Appeals Committee.

10. If requested, the Provost shall schedule a conference (held in-person or remotely via email, phone, or video conference) with the student and/or other involved parties to be held within 14 calendar days of the receipt of the student's appeal.

11. The Provost shall notify all parties in writing of his/her decision within 14 calendar days after the conference.

Note 1: The Academic Appeal and Academic Misconduct Appeal Procedure is an internal academic process of the University and legal counsel may not participate in any conference or hearing.

Note 2: Instructors have the same right of appeal as the student at each stage of the above process.